With St. Patrick’s Day coming up very soon, Detroiters are ready to celebrate the day by wearing green and honoring their (potentially made-up) Irish heritage! There is so much to do in this city with some of the most popular bars, pubs, and breweries each having their special events, and of course, the Corktown St. Patrick’s Day Parade to tie it all together!
1. Enjoy the Royal Oak St. Patrick’s Day Parade, returning from a three-year hiatus.
For the first time in years, Royal Oak is hosting St. Patrick’s Day Parade which will feature the classic and iconic parade floats, marching bands, and community participation! The event will be free to attend will start at Royal Oak Middle School at 12 pm on Saturday, March 16th! Make sure you wear something green and bring some energy to make sure you can partake in all the fun that the parade has in store!
2. Visit the iconic Old Shillelagh Irish pub for festive drinks and music.
This iconic Irish Pub has been a Detroit favorite since it opened in 1975, it’s got some iconic Irish bites on the menu and you can wash them down with a proper Irish beverage, whether that be Guinnes or something a bit more local. Old Shillelagh Irish pub’s annual St Patrick’s Day event starts off bright an early at 7:00 am on the 17th, but if you are worried about the festivities impacting your Monday, don’t worry, theyre also hosting a “practice” party the day before St. Patrick’s Day on Saturday, the 16th!
3. Join in on a St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl.
For those interested in checking out more than just a couple of Detroit’s best bars, they can sign up for a bar crawl that will take them drinking all around the city!
Some of the bars you may come across during your crawl might include:
- Exodos Rooftop
- Level Two Bar & Rooftop
- Delux Bar & Lounge
- The Three Legged Goat
- Sandbox
Just to name a few!
4. Experience traditional Irish cuisine and culture at one of these authentic spots.
Whether you’re looking for a place to have Irish food or want to get some Irish drinks, going to an authentic spot makes all the difference in the experience, especially for a genuine St. Patrick’s Day experience!
- Blarney Stone Pub – Corktown
- Nancy Whiskey – Corktown
- Cork & Gabel – Royal Oak
- McShane’s Irish Pub & Whiskey Bar – Corktown
- PJ’s Lager House – Corktown
Some of these spots are perfect for a bite to eat for a calmer way to appreciate Irish culture and casually enjoy a pint or two, whereas some of them may be a bit more chaotic when St. Patrick’s Day comes, so if in doubt, you can call any of these spots and they’ll be happy to let you know whether or not it will be family-friendly this weekend.